Magnus Sunesson Explained

Magnus Sunesson
Fullname:Arvid Magnus Sunesson
Birth Date:26 March 1964
Birth Place:Landskrona, Sweden
Residence:Helsingborg, Sweden
Spouse:Julie Sunesson
Yearpro:1982
Extour:European Tour (1987–1994)
Prowins:5
Chalwins:1
Otherwins:4
Masters:DNP
Usopen:DNP
Open:T12: 1991
Pga:DNP
Award1:Swedish Golf Tour
Order of Merit winner

Arvid Magnus Sunesson (born 26 March 1964) is a Swedish professional golfer who played on the European Tour between 1987 and 1994.

Amateur career

Sunesson won the unofficial 1978 Swedish Youth Championship, Colgate Cup, at his age level (14 years old). The year after, his one year younger clubmate at Landskrona Golf Club, Magnus Persson, won the same category and the two of them was considered among the most promising young golfers in the country at the time.

He represented the Continent of Europe at the 1981 Jacques Léglise Trophy at Gullane Golf Club, East Lothian, Scotland, and Sweden at the 1982 European Youths' Team Championship at Racing Club de La Boulie, Paris, France, both times with Magnus Persson among his teammates.

Professional career

He turned professional in 1982 and played on the Swedish Golf Tour, where he won four tournaments, beating Mats Lanner by five strokes at the 1984 Maggi Cup and Anders Forsbrand at the 1988 Teleannons Grand Prix.[1] In 1989 he won the Swedish Golf Tour Order of Merit, ahead of Anders Gillner and Mats Lanner.

He was part of the winning Swedish team at the 1986 Europcar Cup together with Anders Forsbrand, Per-Arne Brostedt and Magnus Grankvist.[2]

Joining the European Tour in 1987, he played seven seasons on the tour, 1987–1988 and 1990–1994, collecting €365,415 in winnings.[3] He recorded six top-10 finishes, including a fourth at the 1990 Cepsa Madrid Open at Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro, three strokes behind Bernhard Langer,[4] and a T4 at the 1992 Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club in Surrey, England.[5]

His best result at a major golf championship was a tie for 12th at the 1991 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale Golf Club. After final rounds of 68 and 67 he found himself one stroke behind the T9 trio of Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer and Greg Norman, and 8 strokes behind winner Ian Baker-Finch who finished with rounds of 64 and 66.[6]

Later career

After retiring from tour, Sunesson became a PGA Club Professional and served as head pro at Royal Drottningholm Golf Club, outside Stockholm, 1995–1998. He was coach for the Swedish National Team at the Swedish Golf Federation 1995–2002, along with coaching the Hello Sweden Future Team 1999–2004 which included Henrik Stenson, Peter Hanson and Christian Nilsson.

From 2007 to 2012, he was broadcaster for Viasat Golf covering the European Tour and some PGA Tour events such as the U.S. Open.

He has also briefly served as assistant greenskeeper at international tournament courses Vasatorp GC and Barsebäck Golf & Country Club, as well as General Manager at Rya GC.[7]

In 2014 Sunesson started a career in golf course design. Up until 2020 he was involved in improving 34 courses, including Mölle GK and Lunds Akademiska GK.[8]

He won the Swedish Hickory Championship in 2015 ahead of Magnus Persson Atlevi, and successfully defended the title in 2016.[9]

Professional wins (5)

Challenge Tour wins (1)

Challenge Tour playoff record (1–0)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
11989Volvo Albatross Ole EskildsenWon with birdie on first extra hole
21991Länsförsäkringar Open Johan RyströmLost to par on first extra hole

Swedish Golf Tour wins (3)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner-up
116 Jun 1984Maggi Cup+1 (75-72-71-71=289)5 strokes Mats Lanner
215 Jun 1986Stiab Grand Prix19 holes Eamonn Darcy
312 Jun 1988Teleannons Grand Prix (2)SKr 95,000SKr 56,000 Anders Forsbrand

Other wins (1)

Results in major championships

Note: Sunesson only played in The Open Championship.CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied

Team appearances

Amateur

Professional

Source: [10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Magnus Sunesson Results . Golfdata . 17 June 2020.
  2. Första lagsegern bland proffsen, Forsbrand stormade fram i Frankrike . First team victory among the professionals, Forsbrand took command in France . Svensk Golf . 12 . December 1986 . 65, 71.
  3. Web site: Magnus Sunesson . European Tour . 17 June 2020.
  4. Web site: 1990 Cepsa Madrid Open . European Tour . 17 June 2020.
  5. Web site: 1992 Volvo PGA Championship . European Tour . 17 June 2020.
  6. Web site: 1991 120th Open Championship . European Tour . 17 June 2020.
  7. Web site: About Magnus Sunesson . Golfkonsult . 17 June 2020.
  8. Web site: Magnus Sunesson - Banutveckling . Golfkonsult . 5 February 2021.
  9. Web site: Årets hickorymästare – Christina, Magnus och Martin . Svenska Golfhistoriska Sällskapet . 17 June 2020.
  10. Book: Jansson, Anders . Golf - Den Stora Sporten' . Swedish . Golf - the Great Sport . Swedish Golf Federation . 2004 . 91-86818007 . 197, 275 . 16 September 2020.